Butter-printing apparatus.



Patented May 27, 1902.

c. A. uonez. BUTTER PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Application fllad Sept. 28, 1901 (No Model.)

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

CHESTER A. HODGE, OF VINTON, IOWVA.

BUTTER-PRINTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 701,041, dated May 2'7, 1902.

Application filed September 28, 1901. Serial No. 76,981. (No model.)

To (DZ/Z whom, it only concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER A. HODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vinton, in the county of Benton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming butter in. rectangular blocks or prints, and has for its object to form a considerable number of such prints at one operation by simple means and with comparatively little labor.

The nature of the invention will fully appear from the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a device embodying my invention as in position to receive the butter, but without the tray on which the prints rest in the final operation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section with the packing table or platform withdrawn and the tray in position to receive the prints. Fig. 3 is a top View of the tray closed. Fig. 4c is a bottom view of the same opened to separate the prints.

In the drawings, A designates an ordinary table or bench on which is placed the apparatus to be operated.

B is a rectangular frame inclosed on three sides by an outer frame (3 of a little more than double the depth of the frame B. When in position for packing, the frame B rests on a platform D, provided with suitable supporting-cleats D and one or more handles D for convenience in sliding it in or withdrawing it from the frame 0. Across the bottom of the frame B are strained a number of fine wires E, dividing the area of the frame into rectangles corresponding to the size of the prints desired, usually one pound in each. The number of these may be more or less, as convenience may suggest, depending, of course, on the size of the frame.

F is a follower provided with suitable cleats F for convenience in handling and also to prevent its warping. The frame 0 also has handles 0, by which it is easily lifted.

The receiving-tray for the prints comprises a series of slats G, adjustably connected by slotted cleats H. In the drawings a tray having five such slats is shown, the press illustrated being adapted for forming twenty prints in one operation. As will be seen by reference to Fig-4, thetwo end cleats are secured to the middle slat rigidly by screws I I. The screws J J, connecting with the outer slats, pass through slots H, thus allowing all theslats toseparate,asshown. Supplemental cleats K are secured to the second and fourth slats, and a slotted connection is made with the outer ones in the same manner as already described. The cleats are suitably rabbeted at H and K sothat the heads of the screws are below the general surface of the cleat. The outer slats are provided with handles L, by which the tray may be carried and eX- panded at pleasure.

The wires which cut the butter into rectangles are fastened at one end to screws M in one side of the frame and pass thence across the bottom of the frame 13 through shallow saw-kerfs and through holes in the oppositesides of the frame 0 to'and around straining-pins-N, similar to thetuning-pegs of a musical instrument.

The operation of @theapparatus is as follows: The frame B when in the position shown in Fig. 1 is filled with butter and the top leveled by a wire strike of simple and wellknown construction. (N ot shown.) The platform D is then withdrawn and the closed tray inserted 'in its place, but resting low on the table, as shown in the sectional view, Fig. 2. With the follower, which fits neatly inside the frame B, the operator then presses the mass ofbutter down, the cross-Wires cutting it into small blocks or prints as itdescends. Thisis illustrated in Fig. 2, the uncut portion of the butter being section-lined. After being cut the prints rest upon the slats of the tray, the joints of "which coincide'with the longitudinal wires of the frame. The tray is then withdrawn, expanded to separate the prints, and set away to cool. The platform D is then replaced and the operation-proceeds as before.

In practice the ledge formed by the smaller area of the upper compartment of the frame is designed to rest on the platform when the latter is in position, thus making a close joint all around the box during the packing of the same. To insure such close joint, the supports of the platform may be slightly higher than the corresponding sides of the frame.

5 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a butter-printing apparatus,- the combination of a frame comprising an upper com- [0 partment closed on all four sides, open at the top and bottom, with separating cross-wires stretched across said upper compartment,and

a lower compartment of larger area, open at one side, a platform fitting said lower compartment, and forming a removable bottom for the upper compartment, a tray adapted to lie at the bottom of the lower compartment when the platform is removed, and a follower fitting the upper compartment, and adapted to press the butter therein down across said wires, and

separate the mass into blocks or prints, as described.

2. In a butter-printing apparatus, the herein-described printing-frame,comprising a rectangular box, open at the top and bottom and at the lower vertical half of one side, the upper portion of said box being of smaller area than the lower one so as to provide a ledge against which a removable bottom may bear, and a series of cross-wires stretched across 1 the bottom of the said upper portion, with means substantially as described for fastening one end of each wire to the frame, and for straining it at the other end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 in presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER A. I-IODGE.

WVitnesses:

G. M. GILCHRIsT, W. P. WHIPPLE. 

